U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate most of the Afghanistan war effort was carried out by American forces.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparked backlash after downplaying NATO allies’ contributions to the war in Afghanistan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, June 11. He asserted that “the vast majority of the effort was American,” minimizing the significance of international support in the two-decade-long conflict.
NBC News reported that Hegseth’s remarks drew immediate criticism from lawmakers, particularly Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Connecticut. Coons emphasized the sacrifices of smaller allied nations, such as Denmark, which endured high casualty rates despite limited military capacity. “To suggest that their losses were less meaningful is simply wrong,” Coons stated.
While Hegseth acknowledged the sacrifices made by coalition partners, he insisted that the United States bore the primary burden of the war. “We appreciate those contributions,” he said, “but the core of the mission was carried out by U.S. forces.”
A total of 32 countries participated in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. According to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, Britain lost 457 soldiers — the second-highest toll after the United States. Canada, Germany, and Italy also sustained notable casualties.
Critics argue that undermining allies’ roles damages trust and weakens future multilateral military collaborations. Former NATO commander Gen. Wesley Clark told PBS, “Solidarity among NATO partners is essential, especially when facing emerging global threats.”
Hegseth’s comments have reignited debate over America’s unilateralism in military affairs and the value of its alliances. With shifting global dynamics and rising security challenges, defense diplomacy may need a recalibration rooted in mutual recognition and shared sacrifice.
As the U.S. reflects on its post-Afghanistan military strategy, voices within and outside Washington urge a more inclusive narrative that honors the collective efforts of all nations involved. Dismissing allied contributions could hinder future coalition-building in potential conflict zones.
US Defense Chief: Americans led majority of Afghanistan war effort
The U.S. Justice Department revealed that 55 Afghan refugees were flagged on the terror watchlist during entry or resettlement screenings.
A U.S. Justice Department watchdog has revealed that at least 55 Afghan refugees were on the terrorism watchlist either before entering or during their resettlement in the United States. The report highlights significant lapses in background vetting during the Biden administration’s resettlement efforts.
According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), released Tuesday, June 11, security alerts and intelligence warnings related to these individuals were overlooked or mishandled during vetting by the Department of Homeland Security between August 2021 and May 2023. Some of the flagged individuals remained under surveillance even after entering the country.
The OIG report confirms that, as of July 2024, at least nine individuals remain on federal security monitoring lists, raising concerns about long-term risks and accountability in the refugee screening process.
In a strong rebuke, Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, stated that “the Biden administration put American lives at risk” by ignoring previous warnings and failing to address known vulnerabilities in the vetting process.
An earlier report by the Department of Defense had already cautioned about serious flaws in the background checks for Afghan evacuees, pointing to individuals with significant security concerns being resettled without proper clearance.
These findings have reignited debates over the U.S. evacuation and refugee resettlement policy post-Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Critics argue that while the humanitarian urgency was understandable, the vetting infrastructure was unprepared, compromising national security.
As the Biden administration continues to defend its handling of Afghan resettlement, calls for reform and stricter screening procedures are growing, especially with thousands of Afghan allies still awaiting entry through Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and humanitarian parole pathways.
55 Afghan Refugees flagged on US Terror Watchlist, says Justice Department
Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has also issued a statement saying that efforts to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals have been intensified.
A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan say that the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi has intensified.
They once again called on the Islamic Emirate and organizations defending refugee rights to take urgent and practical steps to address the challenges faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Atiqullah Mansoor, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, told TOLOnews: “Arrests are continuing across all parts of Pakistan, but they are more severe in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A large number of Afghan refugees are voluntarily ready to return to their country, but they are complaining about the limited assistance from UNHCR.”
Shabana, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “The arrests and forced deportations have negatively impacted the business and personal affairs of Afghan refugees. Once again, I call on the Afghan interim government and international organizations to recognize that voluntary repatriation is in the interest of both countries.”
Amid growing pressure on refugees, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has also issued a statement saying that efforts to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals have been intensified. The ministry added that since April 1, more than 216,000 undocumented migrants have been returned from Pakistan to their respective countries.
The Pakistani Ministry of Interior once again urged all undocumented foreign nationals, including Afghan citizens, to leave the country voluntarily.
The ministry’s statement as reported by PTV, reads: “Since the beginning of this phase, a substantial number of undocumented foreigners have been repatriated. The ministry reported that 216,103 illegal foreigners have been sent back to their respective countries since April 1st. This recent surge is part of a broader, ongoing campaign that initiated in October 2023.” The statement also said: “The Ministry reiterated its advice to all illegal foreigners, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan voluntarily.”
Jumakhān Pouya, a refugee rights activist, told TOLOnews: “It is expected that international institutions will persuade the Pakistani government—based on international legal frameworks, ethical standards, and global commitments—to refrain from deporting individuals at risk, including Afghan refugees.”
Previously, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, more than 5.97 million Afghan citizens have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries.
Afghan Refugees Urge Global Help as Pakistan Deportations Rise
Afghanistan remains heavily contaminated with landmines, putting 6.4 million people at risk, mostly children, warns the HALO Trust.
The HALO Trust, a leading demining organization, has warned that Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world. According to its latest report, an estimated 6.4 million Afghans are still at risk from explosive remnants of war.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 10, HALO Trust urged the international community to maintain its support for mine clearance in Afghanistan. The organization emphasized that decades of conflict have left vast areas littered with unexploded ordnance, posing a long-term threat to civilian lives.
Farid Hamayoun, a senior official with HALO Trust, cautioned that the crisis must not become a “forgotten humanitarian issue.” He stressed the urgent need for sustained global attention and funding to ensure continued progress in demining efforts.
The organization highlighted that 80% of victims of unexploded mines in Afghanistan are children. The lack of awareness and safe play areas in rural communities often results in tragic accidents, especially among minors.
So far, HALO Trust reports that 1,400 square kilometers of contaminated land have been cleared, benefitting over 17 million people across the country. These efforts have made many once-dangerous areas habitable and safe for farming, education, and development.
Despite progress, explosive remnants from decades of war continue to claim lives in various provinces. Children, in particular, remain the most vulnerable, as many of the unexploded devices resemble toys or ordinary objects.
Experts warn that without renewed international support, clearance operations may slow, putting millions of Afghans at even greater risk. Humanitarian organizations are calling for long-term investment in mine education, victim support, and advanced demining technology.
As Afghanistan faces political and economic uncertainty, aid groups argue that protecting civilians from explosive threats is not only a safety issue but a vital step toward national recovery and stability.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most mine-contaminated countries, Says HALO Trust
The U.S. State Department confirmed Afghan SIV holders are exempt from the travel ban, ensuring continued visa processing and resettlement support.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Afghan nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) are exempt from the recent travel ban imposed by former President Donald Trump. This clarification brings relief to thousands of Afghans awaiting resettlement.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, June 10, State Department spokesperson Timmy Bruce stated that the consular processing of Afghan SIV applications continues uninterrupted at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
When asked about the growing threat of ISIS activity under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Bruce declined to comment, stating he had no specific updates on the matter.
This statement comes shortly after the Taliban claimed to have killed two alleged ISIS fighters in Kabul earlier this week, asserting their ongoing control over insurgent threats within the country.
The travel ban, issued through an executive order by the President Trump, had included citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. However, the exemption of SIV holders signals the U.S.’s continued support for those who aided American missions.
The SIV program was designed to protect Afghan allies such as interpreters, embassy staff, and military contractors who faced threats after the U.S. withdrawal.
Human rights groups have applauded the exemption, emphasizing that abandoning Afghan allies would have amounted to a serious breach of international responsibility.
With instability continuing in Afghanistan and threats from extremist groups rising, observers stress the importance of maintaining robust pathways for vulnerable Afghans seeking refuge and safety abroad.
Afghan SIV holders exempt from US Travel Ban, says State Department
Russia has issued a stark warning about the growing presence of ISIS in Afghanistan.
At the 18th meeting of the heads of counter-terrorism agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held in Moscow, Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), expressed serious concern over the rising activity of ISIS and its affiliated groups in Afghanistan. He emphasized that these developments pose a growing threat to regional security and stability.
Bortnikov attributed the resurgence of radical groups to Western geopolitical maneuvers. He specifically mentioned the West’s policies in the Middle East, which, according to him, have contributed to the spread of extremism. “The change of power in Syria, the conflict in Gaza, sustained pressure on Iran, and escalating tensions in Libya have collectively created fertile ground for the growth of radicalism globally,” he stated.
The Russian intelligence chief highlighted that Afghanistan has become a focal point for ISIS operations. He warned that the activities of the Islamic State and its branches are becoming increasingly aggressive in the region, particularly within Afghanistan territory, posing a threat not only to neighboring countries but also to Russian interests in Central Asia.
In addition to Afghanistan, Bortnikov mentioned rising ISIS-related threats in Syria, Pakistan, and the broader Middle East. He raised alarms about foreign fighters—especially those with Russian, Central Asian, or Caucasian nationalities—who were released from prisons in Syria and are now rejoining extremist ranks.
These concerns echo earlier warnings issued by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, which reported the presence of over 20 terrorist groups currently operating in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Russia has repeatedly stated its willingness to coordinate with the Taliban to eliminate ISIS cells operating in the country.
Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed two nights ago that they had eliminated an ISIS hideout in the city of Kabul. However, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Karen Chandler contradicted the Taliban’s claim, stating there is insufficient independent verification of their recent operation against ISIS hideouts in Kabul.
Russian Intelligence Chief warns of Rising ISIS Activity in Afghanistan
The former Afghan military employee is living in fear of being found by the Taliban, which seized power in 2021 as US forces withdrew from the Central Asian nation.
As a result, Ahmad is unable to get a job or access medical care, relying on donations from friends outside the country to survive. His son, 12, is unable to go to school.
If they are found, Ahmad says, the Taliban “will remove” him.
His hope had been refugee resettlement in the US, but – with just a medical check to complete – the process was put on pause by the Trump administration.
Still, he hoped. Then, on Thursday he woke to the news that US President Donald Trump had issued a new order banning the entry of Afghan passport holders to the US, citing national security threats.
“I am not a threat to the United States,” Ahmad told the BBC. The BBC is not using his real name because of concerns about his safety.
“We were friends of the United States,” he added.
Trump’s sweeping travel ban came into force on Monday, blocking people from Afghanistan and 11 other countries, including seven from Africa, as well as countries like Haiti and Yemen, from entering the US. There are partial bans on seven other countries.
According to the ban, Afghanistan was included because the Taliban are considered by the US government to be a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, and the country does not have “a competent or co-operative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents”, or “appropriate screening and vetting measures”. It also notes a relatively high rate of people overstaying their visas.
The Trump administration has, however, recently dropped temporary protected status for more than 9,000 Afghans living in the US, arguing its assessments showed the security and economic situation in Afghanistan had improved.
But those living in Afghanistan are faced with a series of restrictions brought in by the Taliban government in line with its strict interpretation of Sharia law.
The ones affecting women – including the enforcement of head coverings, restrictions on travel and education over the age of 12 – amount to a “gender apartheid”, according to the United Nations. The Taliban says it respects the rights of women in line with Sharia and Afghan culture.
A different UN report from 2023 found there were credible reports that hundreds of former government officials and armed forces members had been killed since the group returned to power in 2021, despite a general amnesty. The Taliban has previously said all Afghans could “live in the country without any fear” – and those abroad should come back and help rebuild the country.
“There is a general amnesty,” Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, Taliban ambassador to Qatar, told the BBC earlier this year. “Countrywide security is prevalent in Afghanistan. Every citizen and traveller can travel to any corner of the country without any obstacles or any difficulties.”
There are exceptions to Trump’s ban – including for Afghans who worked directly with the US military before the Taliban back took control of the country in 2021.
But Ahmad, whose application for resettlement was backed by a former US service member, does not qualify for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) because he did not work directly for the US.
And he is far from the only one.
Some 200,000 Afghans have been resettled since the US military’s chaotic withdrawal, but there are still tens of thousands more waiting for a decision.
Many have fled across the border to neighbouring Pakistan to wait for a decision to be made on their application.
Samira, who spoke to the BBC’s Afghan Service, is currently in Pakistan – which has been expelling tens of thousands of Afghans in recent months. If the path to the US is closed to her, she is not sure what to do next.
“Returning to Afghanistan is not an option for us – it would be incredibly challenging,” she said. “Our children have already lost years of education, and we have no hope of safely going back.”
More than 8,300 family members of US citizens are ready for an interview in Afghanistan, with more than 11,400 others awaiting family reunification, according to US Department of State data shared by AfghanEvac.
Mojo, who asked to be identified by his nickname, is one of the 200,000 Afghans who have already reached the US, because he worked directly for the US military. He is now a US citizen.
His sister, however, remains in Afghanistan where she and her husband are “living in a hide and seek game”, he says. They change their address and city every couple months in order to stay safe.
They passed the background and medical checks for refugee resettlement, but like the others who spoke to the BBC, they became trapped when the process was paused in January.
This latest order has made Mojo, who lives in Houston, Texas, and the rest of his family lose “all our hope completely” .
“I wish that he would change his mind, make some exception, change the rules or take his order back and let people have a peaceful life,” he said.
The ban also affects Afghans who are not trying to reach the US for resettlement.
Zarifa Ghafari is studying at Cornell University in New York state, but is currently in Germany for the summer with her young child.
She said she began a “frantic” race back to the US on Thursday in order to continue her studies, before the start of the travel ban on Monday.
The ban has put her under “immense pressure” and has made her feel “very vulnerable”, the the 30-year-old former politician told the BBC.
What makes it worse, she said, was that she regularly had to return to Germany every few months to maintain her residency status there too. Describing her situation as “precarious”, she said she worried about how she could make her regular trips to Germany when the travel ban began.
Shawn VanDiver, of AfghanEvac, said the ban broke a promise Americans had made to Afghans over the 20 years they were in the country.
“This policy punishes people who escaped the Taliban, risked everything to support democracy, are already vetted, were told by the US government to wait,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“They’re not threats. They’re our allies – and they’re being left behind.”
Meanwhile, many of those still in Afghanistan have other problems to contend with.
As one Afghan man in Kabul told AFP news agency: “We don’t even have bread, why are you asking me about travelling to America?”
Additional reporting by Azadeh Moshiri and Gabriela Pomeroy
‘We were friends of the US’: Fearful Afghans face Trump travel ban
Afghan fathers, brothers and husbands are under pressure to ensure the women in their families observe the country’s repressive laws. Here, men and women across the country explain how it is affecting family bonds
To be a father of daughters in the Taliban’s Afghanistan has become a daily nightmare for Amir. Now, he says, he is more prison guard than loving parent, an unwilling and unpaid enforcer of a system of gender apartheid that he despises yet feels compelled to inflict on his two teenage girls in order to protect them from the Taliban’s rage and reprisals.
Just a few years ago, Amir’s daughters had a life and a future. They went to school, to see friends and moved around their community. Now, he says he would prefer it if his daughters never left the house. He, like many other fathers in Afghanistan, has heard stories about what can happen to young women who find themselves in the crosshairs of the Taliban’s “morality police”.
In the rare instances when their begging and pleading to be allowed out in the world gets too much for him, he ensures they go accompanied by a male member of the family and are fully covered.
“I insist that they wear the hijab and I tell them they are not allowed to laugh outside the house or at the market,” he says. “The ‘morality police’ are very strict, and if they don’t comply, they might get detained.”
Last summer, three years after they swept to power in August 2021, the scale of the Taliban’s ambition to erase women from public life was laid bare in their unveiling of an extensive set of “vice and virtue” laws.
Under the new rules, women were told to cover themselves completely when outside the house; not to allow their voices to be heard talking loudly; to only appear in public with a male escort and never to look at a man who was not their direct relation.
When the rules were announced, it was unclear how a relatively small number of “morality police” employed by the Taliban would enforce and implement these rules.
Yet, in the months since the rules were announced, it has been fathers, brothers and husbands who have become, in effect, unpaid foot soldiers imposing the Taliban’s oppressive regime on Afghanistan’s women and girls.
They are driven not just by fear of what will happen to women if apprehended by Taliban enforcers. Under the Taliban’s new rules, if a woman is deemed to be found in breach of its morality rules, it is her male relative, not her, who could be punished and face fines or even prison.
The Guardian and Rukhshana Media spoke to more than a dozen men, as well as young women across Afghanistan, about how the Taliban’s morality laws were changing their attitudes and behaviours towards the women in their families.
“Men have become unpaid soldiers of the Taliban,” says Jawid Hakimi, from Bamyan province. “We are forced, for the sake of our honour, reputation and social standing, to enforce the Taliban’s orders on the women in our families. Day by day, society is adjusting to the Taliban’s rules, and their restrictions [on women] are gradually reshaping society according to their vision – and we feel compelled to align our families with their expectations. It is a suffocating atmosphere.”
Parwiz, a young man from a province in the north-east of Afghanistan says when his sister was detained by the Taliban’s “morality police” for not wearing a hijab, he was terrified for her safety and determined that this would never happen again.
“I was forced to go to the police station, where I was insulted and told I had to do whatever the Taliban said,” he says. “When I came home, I took out all my anger and frustration on my mother and sister.”
Other men who spoke of how the fear of social shame if they were punished for “immoral” behaviour was spilling over into repression and violence towards their female family members.
Freshta, a young woman from Badakhshan province, says she is beaten by her husband if she leaves the house, even to get food at the market. “I went to the corner of the street to buy vegetables and I had put on a long, black hijab but no burqa. When I returned, he hit me across the face and beat me.
He said: ‘Do you want us to break the rules? What if one of my work colleagues saw you?’ For months now I have barely left the house. He says if I do leave I need to wear the burqa.”
Rabia, 22, says he cannot risk the family facing the “dishonour” of his elder sister Maryam going out and people thinking that she is dressed immodestly.
“Our pride doesn’t allow it. We have shame, we have honour. We can’t bear the thought that, God forbid, something might be said about her in the city or the market,” he says.
Young women spoke of the pain of their families turning into enforcers of a morality code imposed on them by an extremist ideology that had already stripped them of their right to education, work and self-autonomy.
“My father’s behaviour changed after the Taliban came. Before that, he didn’t care much about our [his daughters’] clothing,” says 25-year-old Masha. “Before, he never told us not to wear something or to avoid certain places, but as soon as the Taliban came he changed. He said: ‘If you consider me your father and care about the dignity of your family you will wear the hijab. Don’t wear makeup, not even a strand of your hair should be visible, don’t wear high-heeled shoes, and you don’t need to go out so often. Tell me or your brothers so we can get it for you from the market,’” she says.
“So now every time I have my period I have to go without sanitary products or medicine. I just stay inside.”
Richard Bennett, the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan says that, while he has documented “acts of resistance” from Afghan men against the Taliban’s institutionalised repression of women, “within families, male family members are increasingly enforcing restrictions on their female relatives, and more women report needing permission to leave their homes. There are also increasing reports of female family members ensuring compliance.”
“The presence of de facto officials and suspected informers in communities, the threat of constant surveillance and the unpredictability of enforcement are further contributing to feelings of insecurity, heightening psychological stress and anxiety, especially among young women,” he says.
How ordinary men became unpaid Taliban enforcers in their own homes
The spokesperson for the Iranian government emphasized that Iran is committed to distinguishing between legal and illegal Afghan residents.
A spokesperson for the Iranian government stated that Afghan nationals having a legal status will be allowed to remain in the country.
Refugees residing in Iran reported that following the cancellation of their documents, their access to health and educational services has been reduced.
Rahimullah Safi, an Afghan refugee in Iran, said: “Afghan refugees face many challenges in Iran. Four million undocumented refugees have been given two months to leave the country. Their children have been expelled from schools and are not being admitted.”
Another Afghan refugee, Asadullah Zairi, said: “Undocumented Afghan refugees, if they do not leave Iran, will be deprived of all healthcare, education, and other rights. This will cause many difficulties for the refugees.”
The spokesperson for the Iranian government emphasized that Iran is committed to distinguishing between legal and illegal Afghan residents, and that those with legal status will be allowed to remain.
Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government spokesperson, said: “The government differentiates between legal and illegal residents. The decision is that those with valid legal documents will be allowed to stay in accordance with the law, while those without legal documents may leave.”
Mohammad Jamal Muslim, a refugee rights activist, added: “They cannot access hospitals or schools. They are even unable to benefit from rights given to refugees in parks and recreational areas.”
Previously, Iran’s Ministry of Interior had set September 15 as the deadline for Afghan refugees.
The head of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Interior stated that the number of undocumented Afghans in the country has surpassed four million.
Iran Govt: ‘Legal’ Refugees May Stay, Others Have 2 Months
The foreign ministers of these nations declared their firm support for a stable, peaceful Afghanistan free from terrorism and narcotics.
India and five Central Asian countries in a joint statement, emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan are vital and essential.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of India and the five Central Asian countries, it was agreed to continue coordinated dialogue on issues related to Afghanistan.
The joint statement reads: “The Ministers reiterated their strong support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan which is free from terrorism, war and drugs.”
The statement also highlighted the importance of humanitarian support for the Afghan people.
The ministers further recognized the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in promoting peace, security, stability, and economic development in the region.
Nesar Ahmad Shirzai, a political analyst, said: “The concerns of these countries must be acknowledged — especially India, which has consistently emphasized addressing the challenges facing the Afghan people and has never interfered in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.”
This emphasis on peace and stability in Afghanistan comes as the interim government maintains close political and economic relations with India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
India, Central Asia Reaffirm Support for Peace in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
